Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Thank you lovely SamWallflower for pointing out that my character tags hadn't saved! I think I have fixed it. For those of you reading, a reminder this story is already written and I hope to update fairly regularly though maybe not every day. I'm just in a really good mood and thought I would share it with you!
Chapter 2
Hermione was regretting her shoe choice as she apparated home and kicked off her heels right inside the door. She knew Draco would complain about it later but at the moment she just couldn't care. She rubbed her aching arches before she padded further into the house, setting her briefcase down on the kitchen island and conjuring a wine glass before helping herself to the bottle on the bar.
"Draco?" she called as soon as she had gifted herself a generous amount of the dry red.
She was met with silence and she waited for a beat before she poured herself even more wine and then downed half of it in one gulp with a shrug. Ring shopping with Ron had been a disaster, though she would never tell him that. The man had loved the most ghastly of rings and though Hermione didn't know his soon to be fiancé that well, he expected she wouldn't care for the garish and gaudy pimento stone he had insisted she would love. She had only barely talked him out of it, pointing out that it reminded her of the robes he had worn to the yule ball, before he quickly set his sights on another horrendous choice. Three hours and one trip to Gringotts later and Hermione was sure that Lavender would love the ring he had picked. She only hoped he wouldn't accost her when he actually proposed.
She bit back a chuckle as she thought of Ron proposing but then swallowed as Ron's face morphed into that of Draco's. She shook her head and downed the rest of her wine before moving upstairs and changing into her lounge clothes as she ignored the thoughts that had been plaguing her mind all day.
Rationally she knew it was because of both of her friend's announcements but for whatever reason, she couldn't shake the feelings that it caused in her. She wanted those things; marriage, children, a life. She wanted them with Draco Malfoy; had wanted them for a long time.
"You're barmy," she snapped, before she realized who she was talking to and quickly turned, wide eyed to see the Headmistress smirking at her, "I'm sorry professor, I-"
"You're wary, I understand that Miss Granger. I hope you can understand however, why I feel it is important to do this. I trust Mister Potter shared with you about that night on the astronomy tower?"
Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak anymore lest she end up expelled her very first night back at the castle.
"Then perhaps you are also aware that Draco Malfoy was lowering his wand-"
"Yes." Hermione said, her voice gravelly as she thought of that night that seemed a lifetime ago.
"Good. You must also remember that Albus never wanted Draco Malfoy to be the one to commit that act. He knew something about the boy Miss Granger, something perhaps the rest of us are missing. He did always have a knack for that sort of thing. I believe you would know all about that-"
Hermione smiled as she thought fondly of the man who had come to visit her parents. To tell them what he was. What she was.
"But why me?" she asked, her voice calm despite the fact that her hands were shaking.
Mcgonagall looked at her seriously then, over the top of her spectacles as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Because you're Hermione Granger of course."
Hermione half expected Draco to be there when she got back downstairs, waiting in his favorite chair by the fireplace. Instead she found it dark and empty and she felt a flood of panic that Draco hadn't returned yet. She made her way into the kitchen, standing at the counter as she poured herself another glass of wine and watched the seconds tick by on the clock for a while. The sound competed only with the beating of her heart and she forced her eyes away from the mechanism. She smiled as she looked at the picture on the fridge. It was taken in one of those old photo booths she had loved so much as a child. She practically had to drag Draco inside but once he was in, he had given it his all. She laughed at the silly faces he made in the first three pictures and smiled at the last, his lips on hers; lost in their own oblivion. Next to it was the blue and gold invitation and she stepped closer as she read through the fancy script again. It had arrived by crested owl, the kind that didn't stick around to fetch a treat, and when first opened it had played a classical tune. The Ministry had gone all out in the last few years, trying to draw attendance- and galleons- for their Gringott's accounts. This gala was no different save for the fact that part of the money was going to be used to pad funding for children who might not otherwise be able to attend Hogwarts. That alone had been enough of a reason for Hermione to go and though he would never admit it, Draco as well.
She moved on after that, looking at all of the pictures around the home she and Draco shared until she came to the living room. With a sigh she sat on the couch, turning on the telly as she tried not to think of the time that was passing until her eyes grew heavy and she slowly drifted off.
When next she woke the sun had dipped down and an owl was tapping angrily at her window and her mobile was beeping from somewhere in the kitchen. She opened the window first, letting the tawny owl flutter furiously into her living room and dropping the parchment clutched in it's talons before turning and heading straight out with a disgruntled hoot. She rolled her eyes at its antics before unrolling the paper, reading the perfectly spaced and even writing there.
Mione,
Tried to reach you on your mobile but I'm still not sure I'm doing it right. Things came up at work and I have to work late. Don't wait up.
Love Always,
D.
She frowned as she finished reading and then read through once more just to be sure before she finally tucked the paper into her palm and walked into the kitchen to see several calls from Draco. She shook her head, a soft smile on her face. It was odd, that Draco was working late, not something he usually did, but she also knew they had started to expand their potion lines and as such, Draco's job as head potion master had become more demanding. She thought, for a moment, of heading into his office and taking him dinner. Instead she picked a takeout menu out of the holder on the counter and dialed in her favorite meal before turning on the telly to her favorite show- the one Draco had never cared for- and settled in to wait.
It isn't until later, as she sleeping in bed, that he finally returns home. Hermione waits as he slips quietly into the room and strips out of his robe before sliding in between the sheets. She doesn't even think twice as she rolls over to him and he wraps his arm around her, tucking her into his side and kissing her head gently as the sound of his heartbeat lulls her back to sleep.
Hermione had woken later than normal and jumped in the shower before charming her hair dry and dressing for work. She was surprised, as she stepped into their attached bedroom, to see that Draco was nowhere in sight, the bed already made as it usually was when she returned home from work. She grabbed her things before quickly making her way downstairs to see him grabbing a bagel and using his wand to levitate a mug of tea towards him.
"You're up early," she commented as she grabbed a scone and took a small bite, watching his face.
"Yeah, sorry about last night, I got caught up at work and lost track of time. We have a new chair on the board and I wanted to check in this morning before I had to get to my office."
"Oh." Hermione said, "Does that mean the company is doing well?"
"Very well actually, the Ministry contacted us about a contract for the Imperius Impervious Potion."
"Oh Draco! That's wonderful!" Hermione smiled, moving to kiss him. He turned at the last minute, only catching the side of her lips and she scowled as he pulled away.
"It is. I've got to get going though," he cleared his throat.
"Of course," she said, "Actually, so do I. Ginny is probably waiting by now."
He smiled then as he walked towards the floo, "tell the SheWeasel I said hello."
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled, "I love-"
She turned around only to find that he had already gone.
The rest of her day passed by in a blur as Ginny told her of her first appointment and her mother's reaction to the news. Work was slow, consisting of mostly paperwork and briefing the Magical Law Enforcement team on handling the werewolf community in a way that improved cooperation between the magical community instead of animosity. By the time she was finished she wasn't sure how many of them had actually heard- or listened- to what she had to the time she got home, all she really wanted was to curl up on the couch with a book and her feet in Draco's lap, but when she arrived home, the house empty and quiet once more, she couldn't hide the disappointment she felt and she didn't even try. She finished her leftover takeaway and ran a bath, enjoying the warmth of the water until it ran cold and she finally dragged herself to bed; her hair still dripping wet. She didn't move until Draco arrived, slipping silently into bed. This time, she didn't make a move.
By Thursday, Hermione can't remember when she had last kissed her boyfriend. Draco was out every night and in the morning he barely managed a peck on the lips before he slipped into the floo and away from her. Hermione felt as though her world was crashing around her, the flames lighting a path of destruction around her. So she doesn't stop Thursday, instead choosing to leave early, before Draco has even roused from bed. It was here, in his sleep, as she watched him for one last minute, that she could pretend things were normal. She bit hard on her bottom lip, tasting blood, before she forced herself to keep walking. She was halfway through her fourth cup of tea when Ginny arrived at the café and Hermione knew her friend could tell that something was wrong as soon as she sat down.
"Hermione? What are you doing? How long have you been here? Are you al-"
"I'm fine Gin," Hermione said, polishing off the last of her scone, "I just had some work to finish this morning, thought I'd stop by and grab a quick bite to eat while I worked on it."
It wasn't technically a lie; Hermione had spent the past two hours working on the paperwork she had meant to work on the night previous.
Ginny eyed her carefully, biting her lip as she studied her face carefully until- seemingly having found whatever she was looking for- she launched into her story of the night before and how Harry had told her of the names he had come up with.
"- I understand his parent's names but I draw the line at naming them after my brother. However, I do like the name Mat-"
"Ginny," Hermione finally said, her voice rough, "No offense but… I don't really care."
Ginny looked hurt for a moment and Hermione almost took it back; almost told her everything. It passed as soon as it came though and Hermione shook her head as Ginny smiled at her tightly.
"I'm sorry Gin, I- I have to go." She didn't bother to wait for her friend's response as she grabbed all of her papers and shoved them into her briefcase haphazardly before quickly hurrying out of the door. She was almost to the Ministry when she felt the lone tear slide down her cheek and she wiped it away with shaking fingers as she entered the public bathroom.
A/N: Review?